HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania state senators gave their approval Wednesday to a major transportation spending proposal that proponents hope will end a long journey to modernize travel in the state and stem its rising backlog of bridges, highways and mass transit agency facilities in need of repairs.

HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania state senators gave their approval Wednesday to a major transportation spending proposal that proponents hope will end a long journey to modernize travel in the state and stem its rising backlog of bridges, highways and mass transit agency facilities in need of repairs.

The proposal, which is supported by Gov. Tom Corbett, could leave Pennsylvania with among the highest fuel taxes in the nation and higher motorist fees that will rise with inflation.

Approval is expected today in the House, where conservatives objected that it would be the second-largest tax increase in state history. The chamber signaled its support for the measure in a 106-95 preliminary vote Tuesday under considerable pressure from Corbett, the Senate and business groups and labor unions that support transportation legislation.

The proposal would raise gasoline taxes and registration, licensing and other motorist fees to spend $2.3 billion a year more on transportation, an increase of about 40 percent over the amount the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation currently spends. A small slice of the money would go to airports, ports, railways and walking and cycling routes.

“Yes, to the citizens of Pennsylvania, we are going to be asking you to dig deeper into your pockets,” said Sen. John Wozniak of Cambria County, the ranking Democrat on the Transportation Committee. “We are not happy about it, but we have the responsibility to govern and to make difficult decisions. It has been almost 15 years since any gasoline taxes in Pennsylvania have been raised. I don't think there is any place in the private sector that has not raised their prices in 15 years.”

However, Wozniak and other lawmakers also said the greater good is at stake, including tens of thousands of jobs, the safety of people on the roads and Pennsylvania's economic competitiveness. They warned the cost of doing nothing would be too damaging.

“I don't know of a successful business in this country that didn't invest in themselves at some point in time,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman, R-Centre. “This is a great investment in ourselves.”